In the News

Marijuana legalization's touted gains—justice, economy, health—faltered. Reality differs sharply, leaving disillusionment coast to coast. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

Behind the 2 million Americans diagnosed each year with cancer stands a hidden and sometimes overwhelmed population: their caregivers.. Psychologists can help caregivers process anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief. Ranak Trivedi, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

Nearly 1 percent of all Americans will attempt suicide in their lifetime. Among American Muslims, that number jumps to 8 percent. Having discovered this alarming statistic, Rania Awaad, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, created a Muslim suicide response manual and accompanying training for imams. She used her Stanford Impact Labs fellowship to scale up that work and bring it to a broader population. Her goal: change the way suicide is regarded within the Muslim community—and save lives in the process.

Chances are, if you're reading this, you got some sleep last night. But are you feeling rested? Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

On this episode of "Lives Well Lived," Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, explores the intricacies of addiction, compulsive overconsumption, the role of dopamine in pleasure and motivation, and the ethical considerations surrounding free will and responsibility in addiction.

Digital well-being isn’t just about screen time anymore—it’s about how technology shapes our emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, co-authors this articles discussing the active role we should take in shaping our digital interactions.

Hundreds of researchers, parents and local youth leaders committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of adolescents gathered in Santa Cruz Friday as part of the 27th annual Jon E. Nadherny/Calciano Memorial Youth Symposium. The event was guided by the theme “Building Youth Mental Health Supports: Social Media, Services, and Youth Voices in Prevention, Early Intervention, and Wellbeing” and featured local, regional and national experts in the field. Steven Adelsheim, associate chair for community engagement and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Vicki Harrison, director of the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, spoke at the event.

COVID’s emotional and educational strain on children still lingers, but educators and mental health specialists say they are far from a “lost generation.” Elizabeth Reicherter, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

The award program aims to advance promising neurotechnologies from the lab to the clinic, part of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute’s mission to translate insights from fundamental neuroscience research into transformational benefits for human wellbeing. Congratulations to Nolan Williams, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Corey Keller, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, both leading projects with colleagues in this round of awards.